SKF participates in raids against retailers of counterfeit bearings

2016 December 06, 08:30
CET

Three simultaneous raids in China are the
latest in efforts to combat the sale of counterfeit
bearings

Gothenburg, 6 December 2016: SKF has participated in
three simultaneous raids against retailers of counterfeit bearings
in China. The raids, which were led by Chinese police, resulted in
the seizure of counterfeit bearings which may otherwise have been
sold to industrial customers and end-users.

Tina Astrom, Director, Group Brand Protection, says:
“Counterfeit products are often associated with luxury and consumer
brands, but they are also a problem for industrial customers in
almost all regions. Although the sale of counterfeit bearings is a
problem in China, Chinese law enforcement is very proactive and
supported by a legal framework that enables taking action against
counterfeiters.”

“Amongst the seized goods, there was a counterfeit
large-size cylindrical roller bearing. The bearing had severe
visible damage, suggesting that it had not been able to meet the
performance needs of the machine in which it was installed. The
damage was so severe, the failure of the counterfeit bearing would
most likely have created substantial damage to its surrounding
machinery, resulting in unplanned production downtime and financial
implications for the end-user.”

Every year, SKF’s brand protection team participates
in more than 100 raids against retailers, distributors and
manufacturers of counterfeit products, half of which take place in
China.

SKF is a leading global supplier of bearings, seals,
mechatronics, lubrication systems, and services which include
technical support, maintenance and reliability services,
engineering consulting and training. SKF is represented in more
than 130 countries and has around 17,000 distributor locations
worldwide. Annual sales in 2015 were SEK 75 997 million and the
number of employees was 46 635. www.skf.com